Driving in El Salvador vs. Greece: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of El Salvador and Greece, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that can significantly impact their travel experiences. Key contrasts include urban speed limits, traffic signal usage, and vehicle documentation requirements. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a smooth and secure journey in either nation.
Lanes
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
greece:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
greece:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
greece:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
greece:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
greece:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
greece:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
greece:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
greece:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Greece |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
greece:
Not used in Greece
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
greece:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
greece:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
greece:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
greece:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police may set up roadblocks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties |
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | 10400 for ELPA assistance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
greece:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
greece:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
greece:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
greece:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | €350, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | €350, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 10 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
greece:
€350, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
greece:
€100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
greece:
€350, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay